Self-storing multicharactered toy



July 14, 1970 R. B. KLAMER SELF-STORAGE MULTICHARACTERED TOY 4 Sheet-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 14, 1967 July 14, 1970 R. B. KLAMER 3,520,078

SELF-STORAGE MULTICHARACTERED TOY Filed Aug. 14, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet L1 mxw July 14, 1970 R. B. KLAMER SELF-STORAGE MULTICHARACTERED TOY Filed Aug. 14, 1967 F/G. l0

FIG/6 July 14, 1970 R B. KLAMER SELF-STORAGE MULTICHARACTERED TOY 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 14, 1967 United States Patent 3,520,078 SELF-STORING MULTICHARACTERED TOY Reuben B. Klamer, 245 S. Barrington Ave., Los Augeles, Calif. 90049 Filed Aug. 14, 1967, Ser. No. 660,356 Int. Cl. A6311 33/ 00, 3/16 US. Cl. 46-22 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A self-storing toy having individual sets of pieces adapted for adjustable securement on the outside of a two section break apart shell to provide features representing a variety of characters. Certain of the pieces are positioned to contact both sections of the shell to aid in rigidifying the toy. The pieces can be stored in the shell when the toy is not in use.

This invention generally relates to a toy of the type having interchangeable parts. More particularly, the invention relates to a self-storing toy wherein individual parts can be stored within other parts of the toy.

The invention pertains, in a specific embodiment, to an uniquely designed egg-shaped toy that has a plurality of pieces adapted to form different animal characters when installed on the outer surface of a master part formed as an ovate shell. Utilizing only a single basic shell component, the toy can be assembled to form such animal characters as a dog, lion or bear.

-It is an object of the invention to provide a self-storing toy.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a toy wherein individual pieces thereof can be installed on a master part to form a variety of animal characters.

A further object of the invention is to provide a toy of the foregoing type wherein individual facial characteristics of the various animals can be formed on interchangeable pieces, while at the same time, the interchangeable pieces can be installed on a selective location of the master part.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a toy of the foregoing type that is egg-shaped.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a toy of the foreging type wherein various pieces thereof, such as those formed as arms (paws or legs), can be hand positioned and rotated without interference with the main body portion.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a toy that can be formed from plastic materials. These and other objects will be apparent from the following description of the invention and the accompanying drawings showing a specific embodiment thereof.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective showing an assembled toy according to the invention in the character of a dog;

FIG. 2 is a View similar to FIG. 1 showing the toy in the character of a lion;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIGS. 1 and 2 with the assembled toy in the character of a bear;

FIG. 4 shows the two main portions of the master part in exploded relationship, with the front portion shown on the left;

FIG. 5 is a front elevation of the combination storage and master part member;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the rear portion of the master part;

FIG. 7 is a cross-section taken looking along line 7-7 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a view in cross-section taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken through the right hand portion of FIG. 4 along line 9-9;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 10-10 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 11 is another cross-sectional view taken on line 11-11 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary view showing the relationship of certain individual pieces of the toy of the invention with the lower right hand portion of the master part shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 13 is an exploded frontal perspective view showing the relationship of the other individual parts to the master part;

FIG. 14 is a view in cross-section showing the relationship of a foot piece of the individual toy as installed in the master part thereof;

FIG. 15 is a view of the master part with a portion thereof broken away to show the individual pieces in stored relationship, and

FIG. 16 is an enlarged view of the interface between the two portions of the master part as taken within lines 16-16 of FIG. 7.

Referring now to the drawings, the toy according to the invention has a basic master part 10, formed as a hollow break apart box member of substantially egg shape comprising two hemi-ovate sections 11 and 12. As best seen in FIG. 4, the egg-shaped member is bisected along a longitudinal line, thereby giving two substantially equal halves to the master part.

The master part 10 can be formed of a plastic material and as a hollow-bodied member having substantially uniform wall thickness. As shown, the part 10 has a plurality of cylindrical apertures 13. These apertures can be reinforced with annular supporting means 14, such as shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and 14, whereby a tubular cylindrical aperture is formed in the shell of the master part.

The two hemi-ovate sections 11 and 12 of the eggshaped master part 10, are held together by a series of alternate projections 15 on one of the hemi-ovate sections, as shown in FIG. 4. Corresponding extending protuberances 16 on the other hemi-ovate section are provided to interfit with the spaces 17 between the alternate projections 15. As best seen in the enlarged view of FIG. 16, projections 15 are undercut to match with a corresponding undercut portion 18 in the opposite section 12. Thus, the two portions of the master part can be securely fastened together while at the same time being adapted to be broken apart.

As can readily be seen in FIGS. 4, l3, and 14, several of the apertures in master part 10 are positioned closely adjacent to the line of bisection or separation between hemi-ovate sections 11 and 12. More particularly, apertures 13-4, 13-5 and 13-6 are so positioned. Due to the location of these apertures, the several individual pieces that are adapted to be positioned in them can overlap the line of bisection in abutting relationship with the master part. Such relationship further tends to secure the hemiovate sections 11 and 12 together when the toy is assembled.

Turning now to FIG. 13, a toy is shown with the individual pieces thereof in exploded relationship from master part 10. Various facial features designed to form a completely assembled toy in the characters of a bear, dog and lion are shown, respectively, by parts 19, 20 and 21. These parts are interchangeable, and are adapted to be arrayed on the master part with cylindrical pin means 22 installed in cylindrical aperture 13-1. Parts 19, 20 and 21 are formed as substantially hollow shells having edge portions uniquely conforming to the contours of master part 10.

Eye-forming members 23 are similarly adapted to be arrayed by installation in aperture 13-2. In the event it is desired to form thetoy in the character of a 'lion, mane 24 can be installed between the master part of the toy and the facially configurated part 21. Hat 25 can beinstalled in aperture 134 if desired.

Ear sets 26 and 27 are interchangeable, with both sets being adapted for installation in apertures 13-5. It should be noted that the cars can be rotated about the axes of cylindrical pin means 22 to any position without interference with egg-shaped master part 10. Similarly, arms 28, which are adapted to be installed with pin means 22 in cylindrical aperture 136, can also be rotated 360 around the axis of the pin. Supports 29 form with feet 30 a leg portion for the assembled toy. As shown, cylindrical pin means 22 pass through openings 31 in supports 29am when assembled in cylindrical apertures 13-7, parts 29 and 30 form a leg. The inside portions of support 29 tightly conform to the contour of the egg-shaped master part 10. Alternatively, the feet 30 can be installed on master part without utilizing supports 29. The latter construction is shown in FIG. 14.

The parts as shown in FIG. 13 can, of course, be installed in various combinations. Thus, a toy looking partially like a lion and partially like a bear could be formed. Moreover, various combinations of ears, eyes, etc., can be used.

FIG. 12 shows two tail pieces 31 and 32 which can be installed in cylindrical aperture 13-8. These tail portions are interchangeable with each other.

To assure that the appropriate pieces are installed in the proper cylindrical apertures, the diameters of cylindrical pin means 22 for the various pieces and cylindrical apertures 13 are matched. Thus, the individual parts can be selectively attached to the master part. As an example, ear 27 could not be replaced with lion facial part 21, since the pin 22 on element 21 would not fit in cylindrical aperture 13-5. When installed in the proper aperture 13, thecylindrical pin means 22 of the various parts are engaged in frictional position retaining relationship so that the pieces will maintain the attitude to which they are positioned when they are rotated around the axis of the pin. Structural rigidity is provided for the hollow-shelled master part 10 by ribs 33, permitting the utilization of a thin-shelled part.

As best seen in FIG. 15, the individual pieces are adapted to be contained within the master part 10 in selfstoring manner when the toy is not in use. The foregoing describes a specific embodiment of my invention, the scope of which is defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A multicomponent, self-storing toy adapted to be assembled as a variety comprising? two interengageable and hollow hemi-ovate sections together which form a master part having a longitudinally extending line of separation, interior means on said sections for detachably joining said sections along said line, each of said sections further including a plurality of exteriorly opening cylindrical apertures, several thereof being positioned immediately adjacent the line of separation; and,

a plurality of individual profiled pieces adapted to be arrayed in various arrangements on the master part, said individual profiled pieces having cylindrical pin means positionable in said cylindrical apertures in such manner to enable adjustable securement of the pieces to said master part, several of said individual profiled pieces positionable in said several apertures being of a size and shape to simultaneously abut both of said hemi-ovate sections adjacent said line of separation, thus rigidifying an assembled toy.

2. A toy according to claim 1, wherein said master part is substantially egg-shaped.

3. A toy according to claim 1, wherein said master part is substantially egg-shaped and said individual profiled pieces are comprised of sets of individual profied pieces, each of said sets adapted to form an object in the character of an animal when arrayed on the master part.

4. A toy according to claim 3, wherein each of said sets of individual profiled pieces comprises pieces interchangeable with similar pieces of another of said sets for attachment at a common location on said egg-shaped hollow body.

5. A toy according to claim 1, wherein the diameters of said cylindrical pin means and said cylindrical apertures are varied so that said individual profiled pieces can be selectively attached to said master part.

of differently configured objects and References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,144,751 1/ 1939 Brown 46-22 2,433,540 12/1947 Wright 46-22 3,210,884 10/ 1965 Sharf et al, 46-22 FOREIGN PATENTS 466,147 5/1937 Great Britain.

F. BARRY SHAY, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 46-11 

